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Original poster

Silly question - sterilising

31 replies

jugglingmonkey · 17/01/2015 09:32

A quick, silly question...

About to travel to Thailand with DS who is 14 months.

I'm taking some Milton sterilising tablets just in case I decide or feel I need to sterilise his bottles/dummies while away.

Can I use the Milton tablets in tap water that wouldn't be deemed safe for drinking?

I'm sure the answer is yes (presumably they kill all bugs), but thought I'd see what others have done!

Thanks

OP posts:

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ISolemnlySwearImUptoNoGood · 17/01/2015 10:05

I've not taken a child but I did honeymoon there recently and we were advised not to even brush your teeth with the tap water in Thailand. Hotels give you bottled water in the rooms. And bottled water is for sale everywhere you go. So I wouldn't use Milton in Thai water.

Original poster

jugglingmonkey · 17/01/2015 10:45

Hmmmm, I certainly wouldn't brush my teeth in it, but I presumed Milton would kill all bugs (but perhaps lots more to kill in Thai tap water!)

I'll have a further Google!

OP posts:

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 17/01/2015 10:47

I would use the opportunity to stop using dummies and bottles

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loudarts · 17/01/2015 10:49

I would use them in bottled water to be on the safe side

Rumandcokeplease · 17/01/2015 10:51

I would use the opportunity to stop sterilising! Probably be safer than sterilising in harmful water!

Artandco · 17/01/2015 10:58

Yep, I would also try to stop the bottles and dummies before you go. Otherwise every time he takes out mouth you will be needing to clean.

Original poster

jugglingmonkey · 17/01/2015 12:20

I don't sterilise at home anymore, of course not, but unsure of conditions etc, thought it might be a sensible idea to take some steriliser tabs.

And yep, sure that now, prior to a14 hour flight is the time to ditch the dummy. Really??

I didn't ask to be judged on my parenting choices

OP posts:

NorahBone · 17/01/2015 14:14

My 14mo has bottles when I'm at work (he likes to tip liquid out of sippy cups and splash). The rest of the time he's breastfed so we don't get through a lot of bottles but the teats still get sterilised occasionally because they're prone to getting mould in all those awkward little crannies.
Definitely take the tablets, what if he dropped his dummy down the loo! Totally unqualified to answer your question, it would no doubt be fine, but I'd probably used bottled / boiled water just in case.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 17/01/2015 18:02

Just trying to be helpful. It is quite old for a bottle.

slightlyinsane · 18/01/2015 00:01

14 months is not too old for a bottle as long as they can drink out of a cup if wanted to. My kids had bedtime milk in bottles for ages, it's more about comfort at that age and if you're going to a strange place keeping somethings the same is not a bad thing, that includes the dummy. I'd ask the travel agents what the current recommendation is.

MoreThanAWoman · 18/01/2015 00:24

I would take sterilising tabs with you then at least you have them if you do want to use them. Or rinse wee bambino's dummy where you can under boiling water? Defo use the bottled water if you want to sterilise any of little ones things with the Milton tabs. I would take a bottle of what you normally wash his bottles in as well and rinse them with boiled water rather than nasty tap water.

I agree with you its what I would do.

My DS didn't have dummy but he loved his bottle, his night time bottle he had with full fat milk in it for ages. He drank from a sippy cup or held a normal wee cup with no lid during the day. He didn't have his bottle or want it at day time naps anymore. But he had his night time bottle and many people commented on how he was to old for a bottle, bottles should be stopped at 12 months (apparently). I remember questioning my own judgements and decided to do what I felt was right. Well he stopped wanting the bottle all by his little self, he just didn't want it anymore. I can't even remember what age he was when he stopped he's 2.5 now.

May I add i am so very jealous you are going on holiday and hope you have a fantastic time.

Original poster

jugglingmonkey · 18/01/2015 15:33

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

And yes, a beaker is used daytime. Just a nighttime comfort bottle... For those worrying!

OP posts:

HedgehogsDontBite · 18/01/2015 15:59

14 months is quite old for a bottle? My DS is almost 2 and still has 3 bottles a day.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 18/01/2015 23:46

Personal choice, but I think 14 months is too old for a bottle, yes.

MoreThanAWoman · 19/01/2015 13:37

Really think I am needing to get my eyes tested. I was sure the OP was asking for advice of sterilising and not on people's opinions on whether or not 14 months old was to old for a bottle or a dummy? Or if she should take this opportunity to stop using dummies or bottles, surely if she had she wouldn't have posted the question in the first place.

This seems to happen quite often on MN the replies have no relevance to the actual question being asked. Just people expressing their personal opinions which is great and helpful when it's asked for.

weegiemum · 19/01/2015 13:44

Be careful with the bottled water - some of it can contain a lot of salts!

We took dd2 (along with 5yo dd1 and 3yo ds) to Central America when she was 16 months - we were backpacking, she was still breastfed and a thumb sucker.

Used the "safe" bottled water and didn't sterilise at all, she was the only one of us that didn't get a tummy upset (ds got amoebic dysentery from drinking out of a fountain!!).

Just do the things that make your dc happy on the holiday, and especially if you are in a resort, the water you drink should be safe for him.

Have a great trip!!

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 19/01/2015 13:51

I wasn't being judgemental of the OP. I just suggested that it might be a good opportunity to give up bottles and/or dummies. Changes of location and routine often are.

Someone else asked me if I thought 14 mths was to young to give up bottles and dummies. My reply was to her, not the OP.

MoreThanAWoman · 19/01/2015 14:00

middleagedmotheroftwo I am sure you didn't mean to be judgemental but when someone tells you they think your children are to old for certain things or should have hit certain milestones by such and such an age you tend to feel your being judged. I know the OP felt her parenting styles were being called into question by some of the replies.

In my experience (I am the same as you middle aged mum of two) with two sons and 18 years age difference I found the exact opposite with a change of location and surroundings they wanted their normal routines and comforters even more.

stressbucket1 · 19/01/2015 14:41

Not what you were asking but you can buy tommee tippee sterilizing wipes that might be handy to take with you

HedgehogsDontBite · 19/01/2015 14:44

I wasn't actually asking you anything. It was a rhetorical question used to make a point because I thought you were being judgmental too.

MoreThanAWoman · 19/01/2015 14:53

lol @ stressbucket1 Sterilizing wipes? That's ace I didn't even know you could get such a thing. Be far easier than worrying about the bottled water.

Feeling very out of touch with baby products

tortoisesarefab · 19/01/2015 14:55

If I were you, I would use bottled water for sterilising. Maybe a bit ott, but I would feel better doing that. Also agree with the above poster re sterilising wipes for things being dropped on the floor etc.

Waitingonasunnyday · 19/01/2015 14:58

I would expect the sterilising tablet to work in any sort of water. That's sort of the point of them. But have never thought about it before. I suppose you could take water purification tablets to purify the water THEN do the sterilising but it sounds like a right faff.
Given your babies shockingly old age I would just sterilise I think. But of course at that age you know most babies can prepare their own bottles don't you? Tut tut

stressbucket1 · 19/01/2015 16:37

Dont know how sterile the wipes make stuff but better than a baby wipe lol. I used them for DD1 spoons and dummies when out haven't bothered for poor DD2 she just gets it back if it goes on the floor ??

MoreThanAWoman · 19/01/2015 19:05

shhht stressbucket1 ive done that also! DS was eating a slug in the garden the other day yuk!
I know the OP is obviously going abroad so totally diff but I think maybe just maybe (flamed I am about to get flamed) we take all the sterilising to far and our houses are a little bit to clean. Im all for a bit of dirt and germs (hold your flame throwers) I don't mean when they are wee tiny babies obviously we need to protect them but sometimes as with everything it all just gets taken a bit far.

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